Oh...you forgot, China & Iran are true friends. China & North Korea are true friends. China & Burma are true friends. China & Sudan are true friends...you know...by your logic, China should be the most beloved country in the world...but it's really sad that it is not. So, YOU snap out of it and accept that China does NOT have any true friend. Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Burma are close to China because they need China's protection in UN.

@nkab:
For once you are right. But China is not run by people like me.
------------------------

Yup, fortunately, China is not run by people like you. It would be a scary scary world if that happens.

@nkab:
You also said: “ Yes, they (Prez Obama et al.) are lying.”, then you should go back sue them in the court.
---------------------
Hey...at least they have that option in US. Imagine what would happen if you disagree w/ your beloved leaders. You will end up in prison camps and we would really miss you w/ your stupid input on here (not really)

You said: “it (China) will never get the respect if people like you run China”

For once you are right. But China is not run by people like me. It is run by people who are millions times better than me, and as a result China is getting the respect more and more and all over.

You also said: “ Yes, they (Prez Obama et al.) are lying.”, then you should go back sue them in the court.
---

All right, enough of all this back and forth nonsense. You know, you are not such a bad boy or guy the way you talked (not its contents, but you seemed to be decent and honest in saying what you believed) and I kinda like you, just a bit self centered that’s blinding you from seeing the whole picture.

Snap out of it and don’t be fooled by media propaganda, Americans and Chinese are true friends, and you’d better believe it. Good luck and good bye.

@nkab:
China maintains friendly relationships with just about every nation in the world including America and Zimbabwe
---------------

Hey, if I can keep selling products to America and enjoy stealing its advanced technologies, why not? hey, if I keep getting recourses from Zimbabwe, why not? China has no moral...it does whatever it takes to keep its economy going...that's NOT friendship. If China is so great, why her neighbors build alliance with America? S. Korea, Japan, India, Singapore, Thailand, The Phillipines, Malaysia, Indonesia...what are left for China? N. Korea & Burma...like it or not dude, China may be a super power due to its population size, but it will never get the respect if people like you run China

@nkab: President Obama and your Secretary of the State have said in many occasions that China and the US are partners, stakeholders and friends
------------------
Yes, they are lying. If China's population has a size of Cuba, China would be out casted just like Cuba. Unfortunately, China is so big and the world can't just ignore it. So yes, the world has to ACCEPT China, not embrace her. Got it? Accept, not embrace.

“Hey nkab: your China's little brother North Korea just bombed a S. Korea island today. Now you see why S. Korea needs American troops by their side?.................”
----------------------------------------

To cool off your breast beating, it is not clear exactly who fired the first shot pending an UN investigation.

But the trick is so easy to see. First the Cheonan ship sinking (no one swore it was done by the N. Koreans), then the Daioyutai episode (did Japan dare to act on its own without clearing it with its occupying boss?), then the South China Sea commotion, and now this shelling.

What a sneaky way of trying to force the hand of China? A la Gulf of Tokin, a la WMD of Iraq, a la etc. etc. etc….?

@nkab: Would America ever allow any foreign troop to station on its “land of the free?”
---
“To answer your question:………………………. Face it, your China is a bully and only have rogue countries as friends.”
---------------------------------------------

What a convenient way el cheapo to evade and sidestep my question, the way you “answered”.

First or all, nobody has said an independent nation has to be a nation admired. Being independent is a necessary condition, not the sufficient condition to be admired. I figure you ought to know that much by now.

Secondly, China maintains friendly relationships with just about every nation in the world including America and Zimbabwe. Even your (assuming you being an American) President Obama and your Secretary of the State have said in many occasions that China and the US are partners, stakeholders and friends. Are you telling me competition or rivalry of something means being no friends? Are you calling them lairs?

BTW, China is not at war killing civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan and heavens knows where else like your country is. Your troops are sent to foreign lands out there doing mostly the killing while Chinese troops sent to foreign lands are all part of UN peace missions.

Face it, China is your best friend you have got (ask your Fed) and stop squandering and slipping your fine country into potentially a rogue state in the future.

Hey nkab: your China's little brother North Korea just bombed a S. Korea island today. Now you see why S. Korea needs American troops by their side? (or maybe you will still refuse to see it) But of course, you wouldn't like that 'cause you would love to see the North to take over the South so your China would have the technologies from companies like Samsung, LG, KIA...for FREE (or lives of the Koreans)

@nkab:
Ah, you are tongue tight and unable to answer my question put to you: “Would America ever allow any foreign troop to station on its “land of the free?”

To answer your question: America is fortunate strong enough to defend itself so there is no need for foreign troop to station on its land. However, America has so many friends in the world that have defense pack so if America is ever attacked, her friends will come and defend her. One good example is that right after 9/11, NATO sent surveillance to patrol airspace of America. It shows friendship and support and America is grateful for that. So did America lose its independence during that time? America lost its freedom during that time? America became vassal state during that time? The same thing America would do for her friends. S. Korea, Japan, Germany and lots of other nations want to have American troops on their soils to protect the their enemies. S. Korea, Japan, Germany, Australia...are all vassal states to you? they have no freedom?

So I answered your question. Now I challenge you to answer mine. Do you admire these countries because they don't have foreign troops on their lands: Iran, North Korea, Burma, Sudan. They are all considered China's friends. And if you avoid answer this question, then stop attacking my point of view on here because you know you don't have a gut to face your own problem. Face it, your China is a bully and only have rogue countries as friends.

“@NKab:
…………Are you stupid or something? Without US troops, S. Korea doesn't exist. North Korea would have taken it over by now. And by your logic, UK, Australia, Germany (all have US troops stationed) are not admired? so I guess your admired list of countries would be Cuba, Iran, Burma, Sudan?”
-------------------------

Ah, you are tongue tight and unable to answer my question put to you: “Would America ever allow any foreign troop to station on its “land of the free?”

The most important attribute of being a nation is its independence. Without it, a nation at best is a vassal state. That is, a vassal state at least in some aspects such as economically, militarily, financially or something.

Now tell me why should I admire any nation that’s vassal or partially vassal or surrogating?

Is the term “Give me liberty (freedom) or give me death” so foreign to you?

Nov 15th 2010 6:57 GMT
"China's suspicions of American behaviour run deep." Does China ever trust anyone, including their own people. Eh, does China's ruling elite ever trust anyone, including their fellow Chinese Communist Party elites?

Be real: How do China's governing elites get to where they are? By brute power, by suppression, by lies, by corruption. That is their collective story. That is how they obtain their career "successes". They will carry on their method of operation in ruling China, and in trying to manipulate the world.]

"Does China ever trust anyone..."

All that China needs is that the majority of Chinese people trust China and its future-- And they do!

@NKab:
How could any freedom loving person admire S Korea when it has foreign troops stationed on its land?

Are you stupid or something? Without US troops, S. Korea doesn't exist. North Korea would have taken it over by now. And by your logic, UK, Australia, Germany (all have US troops stationed) are not admired? so I guess your admired list of countries would be Cuba, Iran, Burma, Sudan?

Just so that some critics here will know, the West has successfully created a propaganda of false impression that China is “public enemy no. 1” out to grab raw material resources in less developed countries. China is not.

In fact, China may be Numero Uno exporting (non fuel) raw material to the West.

For the $2,103 b US import in 2008, according to stats of US Bureau of Economic Analysis, nearly a quarter of it, or $492 b was for import (grabbing if it was China instead?) raw material (mineral and fuels) from developing nations and oil states.

Of the top 20 minerals (including 'rare earths' lumped as one) that the US imports 100% of its need in 2008, China was among the suppliers for 11 of them. Even Japan exports 'rare earths' to the US (re-exporting from China?).

Of the remaining other 24 minerals that the US imports 50-99% of its need in 2008, China again was among the suppliers for 15 of them. In other words, China supplied more of different kinds of minerals to the US than any other nation on earth. Similar situations probably exist for EU and Japan if the US's is any indication.

It’s probably natural that the more developed economies would import raw material or component parts from relatively less developed ones. That's how product chains work. But let’s not get the order or ranking mixed up, especially when it is used to pointing fingers.

BTW, China has about 30% of world reserve of 'real earths" discovered so far and produces 97% of world's production. Don't you think any environmentalist would ask China to stop this crazy digging? (Actually worse, as these are done mostly in open pit surface mined.)

China showed itself an unreliable trade partner with the rare earth metals who isn't above abusing its trade position for political purposes. So the US has very good reasons to decrease its reliance on China.

Indeed you are correct but what constitutes "devious" behavior by one party is usually considered clever diplomacy by another. If there's one "market" in the world where win-win doesn't seem to be the preferred outcome it's the market in treaty obligations and rights between nations. Again, I see WWI as an outcome of that "market" environment.

We have history departments in colleges and universities all over the world. I hope to God they're teaching the next crop of diplomats something about this. Does the past always have to be prologue?

“@New Student 2009:
France, Germany, UK or west Europeans as a whole get prosperous today due to US aid after WW2 and the capitalism US champions. So, ………..you should still thank US. Better yet, you should thank DEMOCRACY and CAPITALISM which China is obviously lacking.
Yes, China model is only working for China because NOBODY in the world would want to copy that system. So exactly my point, stop touting China model.”
-----------------------

Your byline here has got to be the joke of the day. (And my apology to “New Student”)

First of all, as our government said, time and again, China is thankful to all nations doing business with it, be it the US or Zimbabwe. On top of that, Chinese are particularly thankful and did not forget American flying heroes and American support during its war against Japanese aggression.

But that’s totally off topic here. And if you want to go back to history, why stop at WW2? Why not go back, say 3,000 years?

Now, get this, that “China model” is only working for China is NOT because NOBODY in the world would want to copy that system, it is because NOBADY in the world could copy that system, as each nation is unique and different.

As such, we don’t push our system to others like you do. And that, is exactly the point.

So indeed, stop touting “China model” which is a silly Western name calling in the first place.

And stop pushing your brand of “democracy” that would need candidates to out spent each other to a reported total of $3.5 b (as one held in November) to “buy” the election results anyway.

How many times do I need to remind you that you are obviously no American in the eyes of real Americans? Never mind that you don't even speak like one. Your bashing will get you nowhere in America or in Chinese Hong Kong.

Do stop your off-topic bashing which is a violation of Economist comment code.